Fadel Lamen is among the nearly 350,000 people to apply for jobs in the Obama administration.

WASHINGTON (CNN) - Over 350,000 and counting. That's how many people the Obama transition team says have submitted resumes online hoping to land a job with the incoming administration. The problem is there are only an estimated 3,000 to 4,000 jobs available at this time.

Some federal employment specialists say the record number of applicants can be attributed in part to the current state of the economy. "A lot of people want to work in a stable environment," said Kathryn Troutman, founder of The Resume Place. "They really don't know where else to go to look for a job that's stable and steady and would have potential, so I think the economy is one thing."

But the appeal of working for Barack Obama is also driving interest, Troutman said.

"I think a lot of people would really like to work for the Obama administration. They'd like to be part of these changes that he's talking about. The jobs that he's creating and the new programs that he's creating."

That's the reason why Loryn Wilson uploaded her resume on change.gov. "I definitely feel the call to serve and to do something that is directly related to causes I care about, she said.

Wilson is a recent graduate of George Washington University in Washington. She has a bachelors degree in English and speaks enthusiastically of working for the new President. "I would actually like to work for the press secretary or the communications director. Ideally I'd be working on the White House side or maybe working for Michelle Obama in her communications shop."

The flood of applicants aren't just college graduates. People at various stages of their professional lives are taking a long hard look at federal jobs.

Fadel Lamen is a seasoned professional who specializes in Middle East affairs.

soundoff(28 Responses)

Jeff From Jersey

Since when was working for the whitehouse "a stable environment"?You've got to be kidding right?

January 11, 2009 08:24 pm at 8:24 pm |

Ray Fisher

President Obama will be overwhelmed with job seekers which President Lincoln had remarked it was "too many pigs for the tits" comparing the job seekers to piglets wanting to be suckle from the mother pig. President Obama will no doubt find many parallels between himself and President Lincoln in the White House.

January 11, 2009 08:37 pm at 8:37 pm |

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